Articles - Wiki

Studying the epidemiology of infectious diseases that are transmitted to humans via vectors (such as mosquitoes or flies), we need to know more about the relationship between the reservoir of the infectious agent and the vector that is needed to transmit the disease. The fact that a vector is required between the reservoir and the host will make the spread of the disease within a population more complex to study and predict.

What are vectors and vectorborne diseases?

Vector-borne diseases are infections transmitted by the bite of infected arthropod species, such as mosquitoes, ticks, triatomine bugs, sandflies, and blackflies (1). Arthropod vectors are cold-blooded (ectothermic) and thus especially sensitive to climatic factors. Weather influences survival and reproduction rates of vectors (2), in turn influencing habitat suitability, distribution and abundance; intensity and temporal pattern of vector activity (particularly biting rates) throughout the year; and rates of development, survival and reproduction of pathogens within vectors. However, ECDC states that climate is only one of many factors influencing vector distribution, such as habitat destruction, land use, pesticide application, and host density. Vector-borne diseases are widespread in Europe and are the best studied diseases associated with climate change (3).

The basis of vector borne disease epidemiology is the triangle between pathogen, vector and hosts. As with other type of infectious diseases, the pathogens (virus, parasites, bacteria) cause disease, yet they depend on the vector to be transmitted to the hosts. The natural (or primary) host of a vector-borne disease is part of the reservoir that maintains the pathogen in natural cycles of infection and transmission by vectors to other susceptible natural hosts. For example, in West Nile Virus, the primary transmission cycle takes place among various bird species and a number of mosquito species. In most birds in Europe, Africa and Asia, fatal outcome is rare when infected with West Nile Virus, in contrast to birds in the Americas (especially the family of crows). In this particular example of West Nile Virus, humans and horses are incidental (dead - end) hosts; this means that they do not contribute to the further spread of the disease.

Modes of transmission of vector borne diseases

Horizontal transmission occurs when infected mosquitoes transfer the agent to vertebrate hosts. This can be mechanical (e.g. when the agent is transferred by the vector via the mouth parts, without multiplication in the vector) or biological (where the agent multiplies in the vector).